Catching up

I am trying to do a little back blogging to get caught up, so check the back dated blogs. I don't like them out of order and since I can change the date to keep them in order you may miss some former posts.

Father's Day

I've been blessed in my life to have many wonderful men in my life from the time I was little. I know everyone isn't that lucky. I have a great dad and wonderful brothers. I have grandfather's whose example was always visible. I have had wonderful bishops, seminary teachers, mission president, missionary's in the mission field etc. I am grateful to all of them for setting such a great example of manhood. This also helped me to know what kind of man I wanted to marry. Jeff is such a fabulous companion for me and a wonderful Dad to the kids.

We had a fun father's day despite my horrible case of strep throat the day before. Jeff needed new bike tires so that was his main gift from Mason and me. Ellie got Jeff tickets to the movie "Up". Jessica wanted to get Jeff Honey roasted peanuts because those are some of his favorite. Jonah gave him a box cliff bars for bike rides. The kids made a candy gram card for Jeff, they were thrilled, it was the first time the kids had seen a candy gram. It went like this:

Dear Dad,

We sure SKOR'D with you as our dad. You are MOUNDS above the rest when you TAKE 5 and play baseball with us or play WATCHAMACALLIT games. you stick with through life's TWIX and turns, through crunch times and even when we are BUTTERFINGER'S or AIRHEADS.

Everyday is REESES with you whether we are at a SYMPHONY or on 5TH AVE spending 100 GRAND. You are KISSABLE and we know you love KITKAT.

Love always your JUNIOR MINTS

We made baked french toast with apple syrup and sausage on strawberries ont he side for father's day breakfast. I stayed home from church and rested since I was still contagious with Strep. That evening Jeff's family came over for dinner. It was a really nice day and I was grateful to be recovering form strep and not Swine flu.

Triple Birthday Bash

Happy Birthday to Jonah, Mason and Jessica. It always feels like a second Christmas to have all three birthdays on one day. Jessica took treats to both of her pre-schools, she goes with her cousin one day a week in Riverton. The boys had a fun day at their school. No treats for the boys class, this school asks that treats are not brought in for their birthdays. I rather like that rule, it saves me time and $$. They did however get to be student of the day. They made a poster of themselves with pictures and some of their favorite things. When they came home from school we opened presents. We had prepped the boys that it would be a simple birthday and their big gift would be swimsuits. They all opened their few presents. Jessica's big gift was scooter, she loved it. The boys tried to be excited about their swimsuits and new bike helmets but we could see they were a little disappointed that Jess got a fun summer toy and they didn't. We then got serious and told the kids they needed to clean up the boxes and wrapping paper in our downstairs bedroom. The were very obedient even though the look on their faces were shocked that we were making them clean immediately after opening presents. As they cleaned I asked them to fold some blankets that were laying in the room. When they lifted the blankets they found their new mountain bikes. They were sooooo excited. We went out side where all the kids could ride and play with their new toys. That night we ordered pizza and had grasshopper brownies for their birthday cake. (The brownies are a new favorite of ours.) The girls went to a movie while the boys went to the Jazz game, so fun!!

Opening presents


Birthday Brownies


Jessica's new scooter.


Jessica's new birthday nails and new bracelet.


These are the cupcakes Jess took to pre-school for a birthday treat.

April Fools!!!

Since I have not been feeling well, I didn't have the energy to come up with creative April fools jokes like last year (toothpaste for the cream in the oreos, sewing my kids clothes closed etc).

The best thing I could come up with was to tell the kids that we sold the house. In the morning on the way to school I told the kids we had received a call late last night. Someone wanted to buy our house and we said yes, but we had to me moved out in 2 weeks. The kids had all different kind of reactions. Jonah in his emotional voice said, "Mom I just don't want to be the kid who has to change schools in the middle of the year." I assured him he wouldn't. I was worried if it was too traumatic of a joke the kids would be crying at school.

When Jeff came home from work he asked the kids how they felt about moving in two weeks. Ellie was excited, Jessica was indifferent, Jonah was leary and Mason kept saying, "I wish this was just an April fools joke." Jeff proceeded to tell the kids we found a house in Draper far away from their school and we wouldn't be able to commute to school and also the new neighborhood we would live in didn't allow dogs.

I couldn't keep a straight face. The kids were becoming more distraught, I place my head in my hands to hide my laughter. Jeff was good not to draw it out to long and he told them April Fools.
The kids that he was just joking about the school and dog thing so they asked when we needed to start packing. They were all quite relieved when they found out the house has not sold yet.

Now they will have to tell all their friends at school today that they are not moving (yet) and their parents just played a great April Fools joke on them.

"Please help us to find Mommy's voice."

Friday evening I started losing my voice, no big deal, I felt fine. By the time I went to bed, my throat was starting to feel raw. When I woke up Saturday morning, I felt like I had been swallowing razor blades. I took a few Ibuprofen and was able to go to work, wearing a mask all day of course. By the time I came home from work, my voice was completely gone, that evening the aches started coming on and it was an effort to swallow my saliva. More Ibuprofen and off to bed. I slept in Sunday, I went to the last hour of Primary. My second counselor did it all and at the last minute as my first counselor's little girl had been at the hospital and I was going to take over her duties on Sunday.

After church, I put on my jammies and crawled into bed. I stayed there all day, reading, sleeping etc. At one point I woke up and found a bowl of cookie dough in the kitchen, Jeff informed me they were eating it for dinner. Then Jeff took the kids to a neighbors for an Elder's Quorum social, "Sundaes on Sunday". The kids had root beer floats and cookies. They probably love the freedom when mom is sick.

That night Jessica said the family prayer. I thought she would pray for mommy to feel better, instead she prayed, "Please help us to find Mommy's voice." So cute, I don't think she realizes how horrible my throat feel though.

I found some Lortab from my surgery last summer. One pill and I slept great. I woke up still with no voice, and I don't know why I keep swallowing razor blades in my sleep.
I have been taking, Ibuprofen, honey and lemon tea, throat spray, cold things; ice cream and yogurt and of course the one Lortab.

Any other suggestions. I can't take this much longer. Not only do I not have a voice but it hurts to whisper and I have a very demanding 4 yr old home today who is constantly talking and asking questions. Does any one know of a magic cure???? I don't have the aches or a fever so I don't think it is strep. I'm up for suggestions.

Spring?????

A child at my children's elementary school was overheard saying:

"Spring is just a war between winter and summer."

This week is feels like winter is winning. Brrrr--I'm ready for some sun!!

Bathroom Duties

Since this is my personal journal, I have to jot down the little things that are going on even though they become public on the blog.

Jessica still likes me to do the wiping after #2 on the toilet. Lately she has been calling me to "come squish her". At first I thought she wanted to be wiped but she said "no, squish my belly so more will come out". So I squish her belly and leave and then when she is ready to be done she calls me back to wipe her. I still haven't figured out how that child thinks--logically I guess.